ICC NOTE: Kazakhstan already has very strict laws on religious activities, specifically geared toward curbing the spread of any religion outside of its own community. The laws that are in place are very similar to Russia’s new law on missionary activity. One could say Russia took from Kazakhstan’s law and made it their own. Now in a latest report from Forum 18, the Kazakh government appears to be planning further restrictions and harsher punishments upon those who are not following the current laws on religious activity. The region continues to tighten its grip on religious groups in what some would say is a broad attempt at curbing religious extremism. Yet, some of the methods have been implemented since before religious extremism was as threatening as it is today. Other tactics being used were operational during the Soviet era making such laws a turning back of the clock as it were. 

8/12/2016 Kazakhstan (Forum 18) – Individuals who talk about their religious views with others without state permission – an “offence” in Kazakhstan – are often fined and sometimes imprisoned. Those who do not go on to be punished can face “conversations” with officers of the National Security Committee (KNB) secret police and verbal or written warnings from them, according to official reports.

Other state agencies tasked with punishing or warning those who talk about their faith with others are the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office and Regional Religious Affairs Departments.

Although legal restrictions already ban and punish free speech on religion, the Minister who oversees religion has announced that further restrictions will be imposed in amendments to the Religion Law and other Laws likely to reach Parliament in September (see below).

While punishments for speaking to others about one’s faith are frequent, two Jehovah’s Witnesses have gained small victories in court. Both are foreign citizens legally living and working in Kazakhstan who were fined and ordered deported for speaking within their own communities. In separate cases, the Supreme Court and a Regional Court have overturned the punishments at the request of prosecutors. The courts agreed with prosecutors that speaking within one’s own religious community does not constitute “missionary activity” (see below).

No explanations

An official of the government’s Religious Affairs Committee in the capital Astana, who did not give his name, refused absolutely to explain to Forum 18 on 11 August why the government regards talking about one’s faith with others as a state security issue. He also refused to say if the Committee had issued guidance to officials of Regional Religious Affairs Departments that participation by foreigners in the life of a religious community does not constitute “illegal missionary activity”.

“Only Committee Chair Galym Shoikin is authorised to speak to the media,” the Legal Department official told Forum 18. However, Shoikin’s phone went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 11 and 12 August.

[Full Story]